/\rs inUJN Y EDEN"

was a danger. Already Eden had influential enemies who
were doubly jealous that the prestige of Conservatism should
be at the mercy of so progressive a Conservative; Hoare
would have to be brought back, and Eden would be working
with two ex-Foreign Secretaries in the Cabinet, whose sup-
port he could not expect and whose example he had to avoid.
The Week—a clever if dramatic potpourri of the open
secrets of world politics—was well aware of Eden's dilemma,
and referred to a story that Eden ha,d threatened the Govern-
ment with resignation on the news of the Plan. Cockburn
estimated it as being fifty per cent correct. * When we saw
the proposals he did in fact wash his hands of the whole
filthy business, and declared his intention to get out. Then
he was sent for by the King. It was after that interview on
Monday night that he decided to remain after all *.

There is something of human drama in the young
Minister, identified not only with the future of an administra-
tion but with all the brightest prospects for a .new
international order, travelling up to Sandringham on a bitter
December night to meet the dying King and to receive con-
firmation, blessing, and perhaps decisive advice from the most
experienced statesman of them all. So many had kissed hands,
taken away their seals of office from him; so many famous
names and causes won, lost, and forgotten. Eden was to be
the last of a great company to take office of state under King
George V.

Whatever may have been in Eden's mind he had already
done something to save the Government from immediate
and complete shipwreck. On 10 December he made a state-
ment that the Plan was 'only a basis for settlement* as
ordered by the League's Co-ordinating Committee. The
published accounts had been seriously mistaken in this re-
spect. According to The Times Eden was *most heartily
received', and his speech * certainly reconciled most of an
audience largely disposed to criticism before it began '.
He began the New Year with a message to his constituents
302